What is Shantung????

[fedoralover]

I've seen hats that say they are "Genuine Shantung". They look like a panama hat and are sometimes advertised as such, but I doubt they were made in Ecuador. Is Shantung another name for "Cheap Panama Knockoff"????

regards fedoralover

 

[Art Fawcett]

Hi Rich,
Shantung is the Chinese version but if I remember my history is was developed by Resistol to make a cheaper hat for the masses and is actually a form of paper that is laquered up ( as opposed to liquered up) and stiff as a board. I have tried to renovate a couple and wasn't successful and left myself asking ( Why in the world did I do that??) If all else fail, you can drive nails with it.)

 

[Michael Mallory]

I believe shantung hats are that whiter-than-white color than sometimes works, depending on the style, and other times looks like a cheap imitation of a Panama hat. If you can get one cheap (in California, Nordstrom's Rack -- the outlet version of Nordstrom's department store -- carries the overstock shantung hats that Bailey puts out for $20), then fine. It will get you through the summer.

 

[Butters]

Yeah, too bad the biggest thing nordstrom rack carries is around a 7 3/8 (they were large) i think. I was going to buy one for working in the yard... not everyone has a small head! or relatively small for me.

 

[jamespowers]

Nah, be cheap like me. I went to a Big 5 sporting goods and they had yard hats for $8. If you have on near you, check it out.

 

[gcollins]

Shantung is the old spelling of Shandong, a province in North Eastern China. The straw that comes from there is thick and cheap and often coated with a clear laquer so the hat can be mass produced cheaply with auto presses.

G